Apple 2018 iPad Lineup Will Feature Four Devices, Report Claims

The company is making some changes.

Apple is set to offer four different iPads as part of upcoming changes to its lineup, a Friday report claims. Alongside the 9.7-inch iPad and 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4, both of which will serve as entry-level models, Apple will launch a 12.9-inch and 11-inch iPad Pro with ultra-thin design and narrow bezels.

The DigiTimes report matches previous rumors that Apple is planning a redesign of the iPad to introduce a sleeker front panel. The report also claims that the two new iPads will use a new 18-watt USB-C charger, the same peripheral expected to come with the three new iPhones. The new block’s higher charge times would be able to charge an iPhone from 0 to 50 percent in half an hour and 80 percent in an hour. The speed boosts for the iPad are unclear, but current models ship with 10 or 12-watt adaptors. Apple’s 29-watt USB-C charger also works with the tablets.

The report does not mention whether the new devices will support face recognition, though. Previous reports have suggested the tablets could use Face ID and drop the home button, similar to the moves from the iPhone X released last November. The shift would enable a larger screen without changing the size of the tablet itself. While this could result in less space to grip the device, the iPad Mini also features reduced bezels. Apple modified iOS to reject screen presses that seemed more like grips, making it easier to use.

The new tablets are set to launch alongside a slew of new devices, according to the report. This includes the AirPower wireless charging mat, which can charge up to three Qi-enabled devices plus smaller devices that use a Qi extension like the Apple Watch Series 3. The report also claims that Apple plans to release a cheaper 6.1-inch LCD iPhone alongside a 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED iPhone, all three of which will support face recognition.

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All eyes are on September, when Apple is expected to take the stage and announce its future plans. The launch is expected to come around the same time as the release of iOS 12, the company’s next phone software update.

Unfortunately, fans of the iPad Mini seem to be out of luck. The tablet has not received a major update since September 2015, and no changes are rumored on the way.